Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-07-16
QUEEN AND CARTHUSIAN.
Vict0ria's Visit to La C.rande Chartreus,
and Her Talk with q Monk.

Carthugian monk writing to his niece in Scot
land relative to the late visit Of the queen to La
Grande Chartreuse says that the statements that
in order to receive her majesty the rules Of the
order were laid aside, and that the queen refused
to partake or the hospitality that was offered to
her, are both entirely false. From the days Of
st. Benedict such a thing as q monast1c rule
about the admission into or the exclusion from
cioistered monasteries Of either sex has never
been heard OF In the Catholic world. There is and
always has been law-ageneral lava law made
not by either monks or nuns but by general ccun-
ell or the church Of God, about that very I'M
portant matter. The law forbids under pain
the converts OF clustered nuns, and the admission
OF women into the mOnasteries OF monks who live
secluded from the world. The reason why that
law was made Is simply this: II men were now
ana then admitted into the clOiSterS OF nuns or II
women were free to enter the houses of secluded
monks, temptation to sin could not be avoided
Within and both suspicion and scandal be speedily
produced without the walls. But the law very
expressly excerpts both bishops and crowned
heads. Bishops are always aged men; they lead
sanity lives, and when any OF them presents him
sell before the gate OF a convent the whole
community Is assembled to receive him.
The movements OF the crowned heads are
always public; their high position leaves no
and their visits TO those places are always accom-
panied by the pOmp and the circumstances which
become their great dignity, and which exclude the
possibility of af1ording any food for either suspi
cion or scandal No DOUBT when the law was
made the persons OF both kings and queens were
sacred. Then all of them were Catholic, a good
number OF them were saints, and the possibility
or ever beholding anywhere in Europe such q
monster as hereto king or hereto queen was
OF the sixteenth century gave birth to more than
one OF these monsters, but their appearance in
Christendom made no change In the law. Its
letter and Its spirit has always remained and Will
always remain, what it was In the ages OF faith.
1t Is quite true, then, that the foot OF an Or
binary woman or OF an ordinary lady, has never
crossed The threshold of the
Grand ChartreuSe; but during the last 800 years
great number OF queens have visited and dined
successor OF the renowned Gustavus Adolphus
was one OF them. Christina or Sweden was re-
cei'ed into it just short time before she abdi-
Gated the crown and abjured Professionalism and
became devOut child Of the Catholic church.
No rule, therefore, was violated, no excep-
MIC majesty Queen Victoria OF n aer
old cloi5ters, and TO be conducted through
she wished TO see from the top to the bottom OF the
old pile. But to be received into clustered con-
vents kings must be actually reigning, and to be
admitted into the mOnaSterieS Of the same kind
queens must be actually reigniug so that were her
majesty OF England to aOdicate tomorrow and
knock Just the next day the old gate OF La Grande
ChafLieuoe or at that or any OF the houses OF the
order, she would not be allowed to the TIRES
hold or any OF them. When either kings or queens
Cease TO reign they fall into the category OF private
persons, and they are rtgidly excluded. Such is
the law. 1t never has been and never viii be
changed.
Her majesty remained in the monastery about
four hours. She did not dine, because notice OF
her visit mad been sent beforehand to the father
general and 50 there was no time to prepare
din4er ior the royal party. But the modest queen
par0ok very heartily or collation. which Was
composed OF chocolate, biscuits jellieS, and con-
iecIonerieS OF various kinds. She uld more than
that. she inquired OF the reverend father II any
OF her good people from any OF the three king
doms were among his children OF the Grande
Chartreuae, and having learned that there was
young and amIable EngliShnan actually in the
community, she at once expressed Il wish to see
him in MS own little cell. 10 not know the fam
lily naiIe or The young man, but he Is convert
and son OF an English Protestant clergy many
Her maJesty'S wish was forthwith gratified The
father general was her pilot through the obscure
windingS or the cloisters. The young son OF
ST. Bruno received his sovereign with great
ease, mOdesty, and poiiteness. The good
queen was quite charmed. She sat down
upon an old straw chair close by him and
chatted with him materially for nearly half an
hour. She piouSly recommended herself and her
so highly pleased with his edirying conyersa-
ton that She went the length OF requesting him TO
give her little souvenir which would enable her,
after her return TO England TO recall to her mind
the pleasure she derived from her visit to him and
the Grand Chartrcuse. He was the first English
clOiSJered monk to whom her majesty had ever
opened her royal lips. The young son OF ST. Bruno
very ancient date and very fine workmanship. 1t
was the only thing OF any value that he had In his
Cell. The queen did not kiss the image OF her
crucied Redeemer, but she gracefully accepted 1t,
placing 1t carefully In one OF her pockets, very af
fectiOnately babe farewell to the young convert,
from the venerable cradle OF the Carthustan
order